Lighting apparatus

ABSTRACT

Of the various technological features disclosed in the present specification, a structure according to the one technological feature is as follows. A lighting apparatus changeable between an illuminating state and a non-illuminating state comprising: a non-contact motion sensor arranged to sense a movement of a hand near the lighting apparatus; and a controller arranged to control the lighting apparatus in the non-illuminating state to change from the non-illuminating state to the illuminating state in response to the movement of hand sensed by the non-contact motion sensor, and to control the lighting apparatus in the illuminating state to cause a change in illumination with the illuminating state kept in response to the same movement of hand sensed by the non-contact motion sensor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on the following Japanese Patent Applications,the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

-   [1] No. 2010-185826 (the filing date: Aug. 23, 2010)-   [2] No. 2010-191117 (the filing date: Aug. 27, 2010)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a lighting apparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventionally, various lighting apparatuses are proposed for variouspurposes. As a light source that is used in a lighting apparatus, afluorescent lamp is general; however, in recent years, the use of LEDsalso is ongoing. Besides, various propositions for control of lightingapparatuses are performed.

For example, a kitchen apparatus is proposed, which on a front surfaceof a lighting apparatus that serves as a light source when cooking isperformed on a top plate, has a switch apparatus composed of anon-contact type sensor such as an infrared-rays sensor and the likethat detect a human body and control turning on-off operation of thelight source. And, a proposition is performed, in which avertical-direction detection area of this sensor is formed between aplane that spreads in front of a sensor front surface and issubstantially horizontal with respect to the top plate and a plane thatvirtually spreads from the sensor front surface to a front edge of thetop plate (JP-A-1991-233804).

Besides, a proposition is performed, in which in a similar kitchenapparatus, the sensor detection area is an area that is enclosed by: avirtual vertical plane that spreads from a front surface of a hung doortype cabinet which is above the top plate; a plane that spreads in frontof the sensor front surface and is substantially horizontal with respectto the top plate; and a virtual plane that spreads from the sensor frontsurface to the front edge of the top plate (JP-A-1991-277313).

On the other hand, a bathroom, which includes a lighting unit that isable to change a brightness and a color, is proposed, in which a switchin a lighting control box that controls the lighting unit is composed ofa non-contact reflection type sensor (JP-A-1993-166586).

However, in connection with the function and control of the lightingapparatus, there are many challenges to be further examined.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Of various technological features disclosed in the presentspecification, an object of one technological feature, in light of theabove description, is to provide a lighting apparatus that has a usefulfeature and is easy to control.

Of the various technological features disclosed in the presentspecification, an embodiment according to the one technological featureprovides a lighting apparatus changeable between an illuminating stateand a non-illuminating state comprising: a non-contact motion sensorarranged to sense a movement of a hand near the lighting apparatus; anda controller arranged to control the lighting apparatus in thenon-illuminating state to change from the non-illuminating state to theilluminating state in response to the movement of hand sensed by thenon-contact motion sensor, and to control the lighting apparatus in theilluminating state to cause a change in illumination with theilluminating state kept in response to the same movement of hand sensedby the non-contact motion sensor.

Here, other features, elements, steps, advantages and characteristicsdisclosed in the present specification will become more apparent fromthe following detailed description of the best embodiments and from therelated attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a lighting apparatus according to an firstembodiment of the present invention (Embodiment 1).

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram in the Embodiment 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of planar disposition in the Embodiment 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a detailed structure of a proximitysensor in the Embodiment 1.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart that shows pulse emission timing and reflectionlight sampling timing of the proximity sensor in the Embodiment 1.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a lighting apparatus according to a secondembodiment of the present invention (Embodiment 2).

FIG. 7 is a development view of a white light LED mount flexible boardin the Embodiment 2.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a lighting apparatus according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention (Embodiment 3).

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a lighting apparatus according to thefourth embodiment of the present invention (Embodiment 4).

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a basic function of a control portion inEmbodiment 3 or Embodiment 4.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing details of a step S38 in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart that shows details of a step S62 and a step S66in FIG. 11 and is used for control in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart that shows details of a step S26 in FIG. 10 andis used for control in Embodiment 3 and Embodiment 4.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart that shows details of a step S30 in FIG. 10 andis used for the control in Embodiment 3 and Embodiment 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a lighting apparatus according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention. Embodiment 1 is formed as akitchen cooking area lighting apparatus 4 that is fixed at a suitableupper position of a kitchen by a hold portion 2. Here, the block diagramin FIG. 1 is schematically illustrated for convenience of theunderstanding; however, if description of an actual structure isnecessary, the description is suitably supplemented hereinafter. Thelighting apparatus 4 has a plurality of white light emitting diodes(LED) 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20; collects white light, emittedinto a relatively wide angle from the diodes, by means of small lensgroups of a light collection lens array 22 that is disposed on a frontsurface; and radiates the light downward. Besides, each white light LEDis in thermal contact with a heat radiation plate 23 that is formed of ametal; and prevents deterioration of the light emission efficiency bymeans of cooling by the heat radiation plate 23. Here, in FIG. 1, onlyeight white light LEDs are shown for simplification; however, inpractical application, many white light LEDs (e.g., hundreds of LEDs)are so disposed as to be a circular shape as a whole. Below the lightingapparatus 4, kitchen utensils such as a griddle 24 like a gas cookingapparatus, a cooking surface 26, a sink 28 and the like that need to belighted are situated.

A LED driver 30 receives electricity supply from a power supply portion32 and supplies an electric current from a constant-current source 38 tothe white light LEDs 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 via a switch group36 that is turned on and off by a PWM control portion 34, therebyperforming the light emission control. The light emission control isperformed by the control portion 40 controlling the PWM control portion34. First, to turn on the lighting apparatus 4, a hand is moved belowand near a down-under proximity sensor 42. If it is determined by thecontrol portion 40 that some change is present in an output from thedown-under proximity sensor 42, a turning-on signal is sent to the PWMcontrol portion 34; whereby the white light LEDs 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16,18 and 20 are turned on irrespective of directions of the hand movement.Here, as the turning-on state, the state at the previous turning-offtime is restored.

Next, to change a brightness of the lighting apparatus 4, the hand ismoved in a right-left direction below and near the down-under proximitysensor 42. If the control portion 40 detects a from-left-to-rightmovement of the hand in accordance with an output change from thedown-under proximity sensor 42, as long as a duty cycle is not at anupper limit, a signal for increasing the duty cycle by a predeterminedamount is sent to the PWM control portion 34, so that the brightness ofthe white light LEDs 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 increases. On theother hand, if the control portion 40 detects a from-right-to-leftmovement of the hand in accordance with the output change from thedown-under proximity sensor 42, as long as the duty cycle is not at alower limit, a signal for decreasing the duty cycle by a predeterminedamount is sent to the PWM control portion 34, so that the brightness ofthe white light LEDs 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 decreases. Further,if the control portion 40 detects a quickly moved-away movement of thehand from the vicinity of the down-under proximity sensor 42 inaccordance with the output change from the down-under proximity sensor42, a turning-off signal is sent to the PWM control portion 34, so thatthe white light LEDs 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 are turned off.

Here, in the above description, when the hand that performs the lightincrease or the light decrease moves away from the down-under proximitysensor 42, to prevent unintentional light increase or light decrease dueto the moving-away movement from being performed, an invalidation timezone is set, in which if the hand is stopped for a predetermined timeafter a desired light increase or decrease operation is completed, theoutput change is invalidated for a predetermined time from that time.Accordingly, if the hand is slowly moved away in this invalidation timezone, unintentional light increase or light decrease due to thismovement does not occur. Besides, to prevent the hand movement thatapproaches the down-under sensor 42 before the quick moving-away for theturning-off from being mistaken as the operation for the light increaseor light decrease, only the turning-off based on the determination ofthe quick moving-away is performed during a predetermined time after thedown-under proximity sensor 42 detects the output change for the firsttime. And, only when it is not determined that the quick moving-away isperformed during this predetermined time, the light increase or lightdecrease is performed in accordance with the hand movement. Accordingly,the turning-off is performed immediately after detection of the quickhand moving-away, while the light increase or light decrease isperformed with a slight lag after detection of the right-left handmovement.

As described above, the determination by the control portion 40 isdifferent when the lighting apparatus 4 is in the turned-off stateversus when the lighting apparatus 4 is in the turned-on state. In otherwords, in the case where the lighting apparatus 4 is in the tuned-offstate, the turning-on control is performed irrespective of the handmovement, while in the case where the lighting apparatus 4 is in thetuned-on state, the different control, that is, the light increase, thelight decrease or the turning off is performed by determining differencein the hand movement.

Here, in the above description, instead of the turned-off state, thewhite light LEDs 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 may be turned on at asmall duty cycle to function as a night light. In this case, the“turning off” in the above description is replaced with the “night lightturning on” for the understanding. Besides, it is also possible topredetermine whether to perform the “turning off” or to perform the“night light turning on” when the lighting is not performed. Besides, inthe “night light turning on,” all the white light LEDs 6, 8, 10, 12, 14,16, 18 and 20 are turned on at the small duty cycle such that differencein the lives does not occur. However, a special emphasis is not laid ondifference of the lives, only the white light LEDs (e.g., the whitelight LEDs 16, 18 and 20 over the sink 28) that are predetermined forthe “night light turning on” may be selectively turned on at the smallduty cycle.

Next, when the lit area is changed, the hand is moved near either orboth of a left proximity sensor 44 and a right proximity sensor 46.Here, the left proximity sensor 44 and the right proximity sensor 46 aredisposed on upper side portions of the lighting apparatus 4 such thatthe hand does not obstruct the setting of the lit area. Here, in FIG. 1,for simplification, as the proximity sensors for changing the lit area,the pair of the left proximity sensor 44 and the right proximity sensor46 are used; however, in practical application, a plurality of sensorsare disposed along the upper circumferential side surface of thelighting apparatus 4, so that it is possible to detect the hand movementfrom any direction around a vertical axis of the lighting apparatus 4.Because of this, it becomes possible to move the lit area in anydirection around the vertical axis of the lighting apparatus 4.Hereinafter, the lit area change is specifically described based on onlythe pair of the left proximity sensor 44 and the right proximity sensor46 for simplification.

First, a case where a spread of the lit area is changed is described. Toreduce the lit area, the left hand and the right hand are made to slowlyapproach the left proximity sensor 44 and the right proximity sensor 46,respectively. If the approaches of both hands are detected by thecontrol portion 40 based on output changes from the left proximitysensor 44 and the right proximity sensor 46, as long as the lit area isnot at a lower limit, a predetermined number of white light LEDsarranged in a ring-belt shape are turned off from outside around thevertical axis of the lighting apparatus 4. Here, in a case where all thewhite light LEDs 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 are in the turned-onstate, an upper limit is set on the duty cycle considering the limit ofheat radiation capability of the heat radiation plate 23; however, whenpart of the LEDs are in the turned off state as described above, part ofthe heat radiation capability is reserved, so that it is possible toraise the upper limit of the duty cycle. Making use of this fact, whenthe white light LEDs arranged in a ring-belt shape on an outward sideare turned off to reduce the lit area; at the same time, the duty cycleof the remaining white light LED groups on an inward side isautomatically increased. According to this, it is possible to reduce thelit area and achieve a spot lit state with the brightness of the areaincreased.

On the other hand, to enlarge the lit area, the left hand and the righthand are made to quickly approach the left proximity sensor 44 and theright proximity sensor 46, respectively; thereafter, made to slowly moveaway. Here, to prevent the approach movements of both hands from beingmistaken as the above lit area reduction operation, a structure isemployed such that a quick approach at more than a predetermined speedis not recognized as the lit area reduction operation. When themoving-away movements of both hands are detected by the control portion40 based on the output changes from the left proximity sensor 44 and theright proximity sensor 46, as long as the lit area is not at the upperlimit (in other words, all the white light LEDs are in the turned-onstate), of the white light LEDs in the turned-off state, LEDs arrangedin a predetermined number of ring-belt shapes are turned on beginningwith the inward side around the vertical axis of the lighting apparatus4. Here, as the number of white light LED groups that are turned onincreases, the duty cycle of the turned-on white light LED groups isautomatically lowered considering the limit of the heat radiationcapability of the heat radiation plate 23. Here, the light emission fromeach white light LED is curbed; however, the total light amount in thelit area is kept.

Next, a case where the lit area is moved is described. As an example, astate is examined, in which thanks to the above lit area reductionoperation, for example, the white light LEDs 10, 12, 14, and 16 areturned on and the white light LEDs 6, 8, 18, and 20 are turned off,whereby the cooking surface 26 is lit with spot-like light. Here, tomove the lit area to the sink 28 that is situated on the right side, theleft hand is made to approach the left proximity sensor 44. If thismovement is detected by the control portion 40, for example, the whitelight LED 10 is turned off and the white light LED 16 is turned on, sothat the lit area moves toward the sink 28. And, to further move the litarea toward the sink 28, the left hand is temporarily moved away fromthe left proximity sensor 44; thereafter, is made to approach again.When only the output from the left proximity sensor 44 changes, thecontrol portion 40 neglects the moving-away movement, so that there-approach only is detected; in accordance with this, for example, thewhite light LED 12 is turned off and the white light LED 20 is turnedon, so that the lit area comes over the sink 28. Linear movements aredescribed above; however, in practical application, a lighting spotmoves rightward. Besides, there are many steps for the spot, so that thespot moves more smoothly.

On the other hand, to move the lit area leftward, by repeating theright-hand approach to the right proximity sensor 46, like the case ofthe above left proximity sensor 44, the lit area moves leftward. Forexample, starting from a state in which the white light LEDs 14, 16, 18,and 20 are turned on and the white light LEDs 6, 8, 10, and 12 areturned off, whereby the sink 28 is lit with spot-like light, the righthand is made to approach the right proximity sensor 46. If this movementis detected by the control portion 40, for example, the white light LED20 is turned off and the white light LED 12 is turned on, so that thelit area moves toward the cooking surface 26. And, to further move thelit area toward the cooking surface 26, the right hand is temporarilymoved away from the right proximity sensor 46; thereafter, is made toapproach again. In a similar way to the case of the left proximitysensor 44, when only the output from the right proximity sensor 46changes, the control portion 40 neglects the moving-away movement, sothat the re-approach only is detected; in accordance with this, forexample, the white light LED 18 is turned off and the white light LED 10is turned on, so that the lit area comes over the cooking surface 26. Byrepeating this movement, it is possible to move the lit area over thegriddle 24.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram in Embodiment 1 in FIG. 1; portionscorresponding to FIG. 1 are indicated by the same reference numbers anddescription is skipped unless necessary. The power supply portion 32lowers an alternating voltage from a power line 48 by means of atransformer 50; rectifies the alternating voltage by means of afull-wave rectifier 52; smoothes the voltage by means of an electrolyticcapacitor 54; and supplies the voltage to a direct current power supplycircuit 56. Here, a structure may be employed, in which the transformer50 is omitted; and the voltage is directly supplied to the full-waverectifier 52 from the power line 48. Between the d.c. power supplycircuit 56 and ground, a group of white light LEDs 6, 58, and 60, aswitch device 62 and a constant-current source 64 are connected inseries. In parallel with this, between the d.c. power supply circuit 56and ground, a group of white light LEDs 8, 66, and 68, a switch device70 and a constant-current source 72 are connected in series. Further,between the d.c. power supply circuit 56 and the ground, in parallelwith these, a group of white light LEDs 10, 74, and 76, a switch device78 and a constant-current source 80 are connected in series. And, on-offof the switch devices 62, 70 and 78 is controlled by the PWM controlportion 34, whereby the turning on-off of the white light LED groups andthe brightness adjustment during a turned-on time are performed. Theduty cycle for the PWM control by the PWM control portion 34 iscontrolled by the control portion 40.

Here, in FIG. 2, only the three series connections of the white lightLED groups are shown; however, in practical application, a structure isemployed such that the duty cycle is controllable separately for eachseries connection of many white light LED groups. Besides, a structuremay be employed such that the duty cycle is not controlled for eachseries connection but controlled for each of groups in one of whichseveral series connections are clustered to be parallel with each other.Here, a duty cycle 0 means the turning off.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the planar disposition in FIG. 1 and FIG.2; portions corresponding to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are indicated by the samereference numbers and description is skipped unless necessary. As isclear from FIG. 3, the white light LEDs are so arranged to be in acircular-surface shape as a whole. Besides, the white light LEDs 6, 58,and 60 and the like, which are connected in series and undergo the samecontrol, are disposed near to each other as control units. And,corresponding to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the white light LEDs 8, 66, and 68of a control unit are disposed in an inward portion of the circle as awhole; besides, the white light LEDs 10, 74, and 76 of a control unitare disposed in a more inward portion of the circle as a whole. Here,the planar disposition of the white light LED groups is not limited tothe circle shape in FIG. 3: suitable shapes such as an ellipse shape, arectangle shape and the like are possible.

Besides, as already described above, not only the pair of the leftproximity sensor 44 and the right proximity sensor 46 but also aplurality of pairs of sensors such as a third side proximity sensor 82and a fourth side proximity sensor 84 opposite to the third sideproximity sensor 82 and the like are disposed around the vertical axisof the lighting apparatus 4, so that it is possible to detect the handapproach from any direction. Because of this, it also becomes possibleto move the lit area in any direction around the vertical axis of thelighting apparatus 4. Here, the left proximity sensor 44, the rightproximity sensor 46, the third side proximity sensor 82 and the fourthside proximity sensor 84 each have a first infrared-rays emittingportion 86, a second infrared-rays emitting portion 88 and a commoninfrared-rays receiving portion 90. Details of them are described later.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a detailed structure of thedown-under proximity sensor 42, the left proximity sensor 44, the rightproximity sensor 46, the third side proximity sensor 82 and the fourthside proximity sensor 84 and the like in Embodiment 1 in FIG. 1 to FIG.3; portions corresponding to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 are indicated by the samereference numbers and description is skipped unless necessary. The firstinfrared-rays emitting portion 86 radiates infrared-rays pulses to aradiation area 92 at predetermined timing. Besides, the secondinfrared-rays emitting portion 88 radiates infrared-rays pulses to aradiation area 94 at timing that does not overlap with the pulses fromthe first infrared-rays emitting portion 86. The common infrared-raysreceiving portion 90 applies sampling to infrared-rays reflection lightin a light receiving area 96 at the infrared-rays pulse radiation timingof the first infrared-rays emitting portion 86, at the infrared-rayspulse radiation timing of the second infrared-rays emitting portion 88,and at timing where the infrared-rays pulses from both are not present;and from a comparison of these samplings, detects movements of a fingerand the like in a sensing region 98.

For example, as for a left-right movement in FIG. 4, for example, when afinger and the like move from a position 91 to a position 93 in thesensing region 98, a state transition occurs from a state in whichpulses from the second infrared-rays emitting portion 88 are reflectedby the finger and only the reflection light is received, via a state inwhich pulses from both of the first infrared-rays emitting portion 86and the second infrared-rays emitting portion 88 are reflected by thefinger and the reflection light of both pulses is received, and to astate in which pulses from the first infrared-rays emitting portion 86are reflected by the finger and only the reflection light is received.According to this, a from-right-to-left finger movement in FIG. 4 isdetected. On the other hand, when the finger and the like move from theposition 93 to the position 91 in the sensing region 98, the statetransition of the light receiving states of the reflection light becomesreverse, so that a from-left-to-right finger movement in FIG. 4 isdetected.

On the other hand, as for a vertical movement in FIG. 4, for example,when the finger and the like move from a position 95 to a position 97 inthe sensing region 98, a state transition occurs from a state in whichpulses from the first infrared-rays emitting portion 86 are reflected bythe finger and only the reflection light is received to a state in whichpulses from both of the first infrared-rays emitting portion 86 and thesecond infrared-rays emitting portion 88 are reflected by the finger andthe reflection light of both pulses is received. According to this, afrom-top-to-bottom finger movement in FIG. 4 is detected. On the otherhand, when the finger and the like move from the position 97 to theposition 95 in the sensing region 98, the state transition of the lightreceiving states of the reflection light becomes reverse, so that afrom-bottom-to-top finger movement in FIG. 4 is detected.

As described above, a case where a relatively small object such as thefinger and the like moves in the sensing region 98 is described;however, in a case of a relatively large object such as a palm and thelike, the received light output is a combination of reflection lightfrom portions of the palm. In this case, as for the left-right movementin FIG. 4, it is possible to detect the movement relatively easily froman end-portion movement of the palm. On the other hand, in the case ofthe vertical movement in FIG. 4, the state continues, in which pulsesfrom both of the first infrared-rays emitting portion 86 and the secondinfrared-rays emitting portion 88 are reflected by the entire palm andthe reflection light of both pulses is received. In such a case,increase or decrease in the reflection light amount is detected; and itis determined as an approach in a case where the reflection light amountincreases and it is determined as a moving-away in a case where thereflection light amount decreases. Here, in the vertical movement aswell, if the palm is moved in parallel with the movement direction, thereflection area becomes small, so that it is possible to detect thereflection state transition as in FIG. 4. Here, in FIG. 4, the casewhere there are the two infrared-rays emitting portions is described;however, to increase the sensitivity, it is possible to increase thenumber of infrared-rays emitting portions; besides, in this case, it ispossible to dispose the infrared-rays emitting portionstwo-dimensionally or three-dimensionally; or it is possible to increasethe number of infrared-rays receiving portions 90.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart that shows: the pulse radiation timing of thefirst infrared-rays emitting portion 86 and the second infrared-raysemitting portion 88 of each of the down-under proximity sensor 42, theleft proximity sensor 44, the right proximity sensor 46, the third sideproximity sensor 82 and the fourth side proximity sensor 84: and thereflection light sampling timing of the common infrared-rays receivingportion 90. FIG. 5 (A) shows the pulse radiation timing of the firstinfrared-rays emitting portion 86; FIG. 5 (B) shows the pulse radiationtiming of the second infrared-rays emitting portion 88; and FIG. 5 (C)shows the reflection light sampling timing of the common infrared-raysreceiving portion 90. The pulse radiations in FIG. 5 (A) and FIG. 5(B)are repeated at about 100 Hz, for example. As is clear from FIG. 5, thereceived light output sampling is performed likewise in order from:timing t1 when only the pulses from the first infrared-rays emittingportion 86 are radiated; timing t2 when neither of both pulse radiationsis present; timing t3 when only the pulses from the second infrared-raysemitting portion 88 are radiated; and to timing t4 when neither of bothpulse radiations is present. As described above, before and after bothof the reflection light samplings during the pulse radiation only fromthe first infrared-rays emitting portion 86 and the pulse radiation onlyfrom the second infrared-rays emitting portion 88, the received lightsampling in the state having no pulse radiation is performed, so that itis possible to effectively remove reflected light output other than thereflection light.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a lighting apparatus according toEmbodiment 2 of the present invention. Embodiment 2 also is formed as akitchen cooking area lighting apparatus 104 that is fixed at a suitableupper position of a kitchen by a hold portion 102. Besides, because mostof the structure is common to Embodiment 1, the common portions areindicated by reference numbers on the order of 100 with the commonsecond and first digits and description is skipped unless necessary.Besides, the detailed structures shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5 are alsoapplicable to Embodiment 2 and other embodiments that are describedhereinafter. What Embodiment 2 in FIG. 6 is different from Embodiment 1in FIG. 1 is a point that white light LEDs 106 to 120 are disposed on aninward bent surface and the light collection lens array 22 disposed inEmbodiment 1 is omitted. Because of this, a heat radiation plate 123also has an inward bent shape.

As a result of the above structure, even without the light collectionlens array 22, it is possible to efficiently shine the illuminationlight onto the kitchen utensils such as the griddle 24, the cookingsurface 26, the sink 28 and the like that are below the lightingapparatus 104 and need the lighting. On substantially a center portion101 of the bent shape of the white light LEDs 106 to 120 and the heatradiation plate 123, the light from all the white light LED groupsconcentrates, so that if there is an ingredient or a dish that the userwants to look in a bright state, it is sufficient to lift them to thecenter portion 101. Here, in Embodiment 2, the surface on which thewhite light LEDs 106 to 120 are disposed is part of a spherical surface;as a result of this, the light emission center axes of the white lightLED groups concentrate on the center portion 101; however, to performthe disposition such that the light emission center axes of the whitelight LED groups are not parallel to each other, it is possible not onlyto perform the disposition on the simple spherical surface but also tominutely design considering the illuminance on a lit target surface.

Here, in the case of moving the lit area, to move the lit area towardthe sink 28, the left hand is made to approach the left proximity sensor144; if this movement is detected by a control portion 140, for example,a state is obtained, in which the white light LED group on the whitelight LED 120 side is turned off while the white light LED group on thewhite light LED 106 side is turned on. On the other hand, to move thelit area toward the griddle 24, the right hand is made to approach theright proximity sensor 146; if this movement is detected by the controlportion 140, for example, a state is obtained, in which the white lightLED group on the white light LED 106 side is turned off while the whitelight LED group on the white light LED 120 side is turned on.

FIG. 7 is a development view of a flexible board for mounting the whitelight LED group in Embodiment 2 in FIG. 6. A flexible board 151incorporates a group of white light LEDs 106, 158 and 160 and a group ofwhite light LEDs 108, 166 and 168 and the like; has cutout pieces 153and the like; and by attaching the cutout pieces 153 on the inner sideof the heat radiation plate 123 such that the cutout pieces are incontact with each other at their tip end portions, it is possible todispose the white light LED groups on the inward bent surface in sectionshown in FIG. 6 as a whole. Here, control related circuit elements 155,157 such as an LED driver and the like are disposed at a center of theflexible board 151 such that a wiring is not cut by the cutout piece153; from here, the wiring extends radially as a whole to control thewhite light LED groups.

Embodiment 3

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a lighting apparatus according toEmbodiment 3 of the present invention. Embodiment 3 also is formed as akitchen cooking area lighting apparatus 204 that is fixed at a suitableupper position of a kitchen by a hold portion 202. Besides, because mostof the structure is common to Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, the commonportions are indicated by reference numbers on the order of 200 with thecommon second and first digits and description is skipped unlessnecessary. A first point in which Embodiment 3 in FIG. 8 is differentfrom Embodiment 1 in FIG. 1 or e Embodiment 2 in FIG. 6 is that whitelight LEDs 208, 212, 216, 220 and the like are evenly mingled withyellow light LEDs 207, 209, 211, 213 and the like.

And, the white light LEDs 208, 212, 216, 220 and the like are controlledby a white light LED driver 230 that is supplied with electricity by awhite light power supply portion 232; independent of this, the yellowlight LEDs 207, 209, 211, 213 and the like are controlled by a yellowlight LED driver 231 that is supplied with electricity by a yellow lightpower supply portion 233. According to this, by means of changes of theduty cycle of the whit light LED group and the duty cycle of the yellowlight LED group, it is possible to freely change the mixing ratio of thewhite and the yellow and change the lighting color between the white andthe yellow. Such change of the lighting color in a kitchen is useful ina case and the like where for example, the color of a dish or aningredient is evaluated under the same conditions as day time colortemperatures and color temperatures during a light lighting time in adining room at a time of setting a table.

A second point in which Embodiment 3 in FIG. 8 is different fromEmbodiment 1 in FIG. 1 or Embodiment 2 in FIG. 6 is that a structure isemployed, in which movable reflection shades 215, 217 are disposed anddriven in cooperation with each other by a drive portion 219, whereby itis possible to change the radiation direction of the illumination light.FIG. 8 shows, as an example, a state in which it is adjusted such thatthe lighting direction points to the griddle 24. Here, in Embodiment 3in FIG. 8, like in Embodiment 2 in FIG. 6, the light collection lensarray 22 disposed in Embodiment 1 in FIG. 1 is omitted. The driveportion 219 is controlled by the control portion 240; the movablereflection shades 215 and 217 are driven such that the left hand is madeto approach a left proximity sensor 244, whereby the lit area movestoward the sink 28; while the right hand is made to approach a rightproximity sensor 246, whereby the lit area moves toward the griddle 24.

Further, when changing the lit area between a spot and a wide angle bymaking the left hand and the right hand approach and move away from theleft proximity sensor 244 and the right proximity sensor 246,respectively, the drive control is performed such that the movablereflection shades 215 and 217 move in a closed direction or an openeddirection as a whole in cooperation with each other. Here, in Embodiment3 in FIG. 8, unlike Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, the change of theturning-on and turning-off of the white light LED group and the yellowlight LED group due to the spreading of the lit area or the movement ofthe center of the lit area is not performed. Only one pair of the leftand right movable reflection shades 215 and 217 are shown in FIG. 8 forsimplification; however, like the pairs of proximity sensors in FIG. 3,a plurality of pairs of reflection shades are disposed around thevertical axis of the lighting apparatus 204, so that it is also possibleto change the lit area in any direction around the vertical axis.

Here, in the case of Embodiment 3, in a case of night light turning-on,all the white light LED groups are turned off, while the yellow lightLED groups are turned on at a small duty cycle. Besides, in the case ofchanging the lighting brightness, to darken the lighting as a whole,automatic control is performed, in which the duty cycle of the whitelight LED group is made smaller than the duty cycle of the yellow lightLED group such that a yellowish color prevails as a whole; on the otherhand, to brighten the lighting as a whole, automatic control isperformed, in which the duty cycle of the white light LED group is madelarger than the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group such that awhitish color prevails as a whole. According to this, by sensuouslyapproximating a color temperature change due to a brightness change ofan incandescent lamp and a color temperature change during day time anddusk, a natural brightness change is performed.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a lighting apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention. Embodiment 4 also is formed as akitchen cooking area lighting apparatus that is fixed at a suitableupper position of a kitchen by a hold portion 302. Besides, because mostof the structure is common to Embodiment 3 in FIG. 8, the commonportions are indicated by reference numbers on the order of 300 with thecommon second and first digits and description is skipped unlessnecessary. A point in which Embodiment 4 in FIG. 9 is different fromEmbodiment 3 in FIG. 8 is that the kitchen cooking area lightingapparatus is separated into a control fix unit 305 and a movablelighting unit 304; the angle of the control fix unit 305 to the movablelighting unit 304 is variable by a swing mechanism 341; because of this,it is possible to change the lighting direction. Here, like Embodiment1, to increase the lighting directivity, a light collection lens array322 is employed. Because of these, the movable reflection shades 215,217 in Embodiment 3 are not employed in Embodiment 4.

First, a change of the lighting direction in Embodiment 4 is described.A drive portion 319 for controlling the swing mechanism 341 iscontrolled by a control portion 340; the left hand is made to approach aleft proximity sensor 344, whereby the movable lighting unit 304 istilted in a counterclockwise direction as a whole to light centering onthe sink 28 side. On the other hand, the right hand is made to approacha right proximity sensor 346, whereby the movable lighting unit 304 istilted in a clockwise direction as a whole to light centering on thegriddle 24 side.

When changing the lit area between a spot and a wide angle by making theleft hand and the right hand approach and move away from the leftproximity sensor 344 and the right proximity sensor 346, respectively,like Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, the lit area is increased anddecreased by means of the turning on and tuning off of the LED group (inthis case, the white light LED group and the yellow light LED group).Besides, here, as the number of turned-off LED groups increases, it isthe same as Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 that the duty cycle of theturned-on LED groups is increased.

The above Embodiment 1 to Embodiment 4 are described with mainly therespective features simplified; it is arbitrary to combine and employthe features described in the respective Embodiments and to change thecombination of the features. For example, it is arbitrary to composeEmbodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 into the swing type like Embodiment 4; orto compose Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 into the mingled type of thewhite light LED group and the yellow light LED group like Embodiment 3and Embodiment 4. Besides, in Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3, it isarbitrary to employ together the light collection lens array used inEmbodiment 1 and Embodiment 4. Further, the proximity sensor is notlimited to the sensors shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5: it is arbitrary toemploy other types of proximity sensors that are able to fulfill thesame function.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a basic function of the control portion240 in Embodiment 3 in FIG. 8 and the control portion 340 in Embodiment4 in FIG. 9. However, by performing replacement described later, it ispossible to employ the flow chart in the control portion 40 inEmbodiment 1 in FIG. 1 and the control portion 140 as well in Embodiment2 in FIG. 6. By disposing the lighting apparatus and supplyingelectricity, the flow starts to perform an initial stage process in astep S2. This process basically performs a function check of the entirelighting apparatus; however, it is also possible to perform varioussettings for a limited predetermined time: it is possible to performcustom settings whether or not to perform night light turning-on insteadof turning-off; whether or not to perform a color temperature automaticchange due to a brightness change; whether or not to perform anautomatic brightness change due to a light area change and the like.Here, when nothing is set within the predetermined time, a defaultsetting (the above settings are all “Yes”) is performed and the initialsetting process is ended. Hereinafter, the flow is described under thedefault setting.

If the initial setting process ends, the flow goes to a step S4 to issuean instruction for night light yellow turning-on. Next, in a step S6, itis checked whether or not there is a sensor output from the down-underproximity sensor. And, if there is a sensor output, the flow goes to astep S8 to check whether or not light is now being emitted. And, iflight is not being emitted, the flow goes to a step S10 to read arecorded turned-on state and goes to a step S12. If there is not arecord, the flow goes to the step S12 as default turning-on. In the stepS12, an instruction is issued for light turning-on based on the recordedturning-on state read in the step S10. In this way, if it is determinedin the step S8 that light is not being emitted, the flow goes to thestep S12 whatever the output from the down-under proximity sensor in thestep S6 is and an instruction for light turning-on is issued. Here, therecorded turning-on state in the step S10 is a record of brightness, acolor temperature, a lit area immediately before the previousturning-off; by passing through the step S10, the lighting stateimmediately before the previous turning-off is restored.

If an instruction for light turning-on is issued in the step S12, theflow goes to a step S14 and thereafter inactivates the proximity sensorfor a predetermined time. This is, for example, to prevent the proximitysensor from detecting a moving-away movement of the hand that is made toapproach the proximity sensor for a light turning-on operation andcausing an unintentional erroneous operation. If the predetermined timein the step S14 elapses, the flow goes to a step S16 to check whether ornot the electricity supply is interrupted; if the supply is kept, theflow returns to the step S6.

On the other hand, if it is detected in the step S8 that light is beingemitted, the flow goes to a step S18 to perform an output recordcomparison process for determination of a hand movement based on atime-dependent change history of the proximity sensor output. And,passing through the output record comparison process in the step S18,the flow goes to a step S20 to check whether or not the hand movementdetected by the down-under proximity sensor is a quick moving-away. Ifit is not a quick moving-away, the flow goes to a step S22 to checkwhether or not a predetermined time elapses from the time the down-underproximity sensor output is detected for the first time. If thepredetermined time does not elapse, the flow returns to the step S18,passes through the output record comparison process based on a newsensor output, and goes to the step S20. In this way, as long as a quickmoving-away is not detected and the predetermined time does not elapse,the step S18 to the step S22 are repeated; even if there is a down-underproximity sensor output, noting is performed for a while. In this way,during the time the step S18 to the step S22 are repeated, the flowresponds only to detection of a quick moving-away, so that anunintentional erroneous operation is prevented from being caused by thehand that is made to approach the down-under proximity sensor for aquick moving-away.

If the predetermined time elapses in the step S22, the flow goes to astep S24 to check whether or not the hand movement detected in the stepS18 is a left-right movement. And, if it is a left-right movement, theflow goes to a step S26 to perform a predetermined light amount changeprocess and goes to a step S28. The predetermined light amount changeprocess in the step S26 is a process to increase or decrease the lightamount by a predetermined amount in accordance with whether the movementdetected in the step S24 is a rightward movement or a leftward movement;however, details of it are described later. If a left-right movement isnot detected in the step S24, the flow directly goes to the step S28.

In the step S28, it is checked whether or not the hand movement detectedin the step S18 is a vertical movement. And, if it is a verticalmovement, the flow goes to a step S30 to perform a predetermined colorchange process and goes to a step S32. The predetermined color changeprocess in the step S30 is a process to change the lighting color in ayellow-color direction or a white-color direction in accordance withwhether the movement detected in the step S28 is an upward movement or adownward movement; however, details of it are described later. If avertical movement is not detected in the step S28, the flow directlygoes to the step S32. As described above, the operation execution basedon a left-right movement or a vertical movement is lagged until a timeit is confirmed by the repetition of the step S18 to the step S22 thatthe hand movement is not a quick moving-away.

In the step S32, it is checked whether or not an output change occurswithin a predetermined time based on the down-under proximity sensoroutput. If the hand that causes an output change from the down-underproximity sensor still moves thereafter, an output change occurs withinthe predetermined time; however, thereafter, if the hand is stopped, anoutput change within the predetermined time does not occur. And, if itis detected that there is not an output change within the predeterminedtime, the flow goes to a step S34; thereafter, during a predeterminedtime, inactivates the proximity sensor. This is to prevent the proximitysensor from: detecting a moving-away movement of the hand after thehand, which performs the light amount change operation or the colorchange operation, achieves a predetermined light amount or apredetermined color; and causing an erroneous operation that furthergenerates an unintentional light amount change or color change. If thepredetermined time elapses in the step S34, the flow goes to the stepS16. On the other hand, if there is an output change within thepredetermined time in the step S32, the flow considers that thebrightness change or color change operation continues and directly goesto the step S16.

On the other hand, if an output change from the down-under proximitysensor is not detected in the step S6, the flow goes to a step S36 tocheck whether or not there is an output change from either or both ofthe left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor. And, if asensor output change is detected, the flow goes to a step S38 to performa lit area change process and goes to the step S16. Details of the litarea change process are described later. On the other hand, if no outputchange from the left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor isdetected in the step S36, the flow directly goes to the step S16.

On the other hand, if a quick moving-away is detected in the step S20,the flow goes to the step S40 to record the current turning-on state,issues an instruction for night light yellow turning-on in the step S42and goes to the step S16. As described above, the step S6 to the stepS42 are repeated to deal with the operations of keeping the night lightyellow turning-on or the light emission, or performing a change betweenthem, and changing the brightness, the color and the lit area.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing details of the lit area change processin the step S38 in FIG. 10. If the flow starts, in a step S52, it ischecked whether or not light emission is ongoing. And, if light emissionis not ongoing, the flow is immediately ended. In this way, if lightemission is not ongoing, the outputs from the left proximity sensor andthe right proximity sensor become invalid and nothing is performed. Thisis because the lit area change is meaningless if the lit area change isperformed without confirming the kitchen utensils and the like that areactually illuminated with light emission.

If it is detected in the step S52 that light emission is ongoing, theflow goes to a step S54 to perform the same output record comparisonprocess as in the step S18 in FIG. 10 and goes to a step S56. In thestep S56, it is checked whether or not there are sensor outputs fromboth of the left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor. And,if there are both sensor outputs, the flow goes to a step S58 to checkwhether or not it is an approach detection. And, if it is an approachdetection, the flow goes to a step S60 to check whether or not it is aquick approach. If it is not a quick approach, a the flow executespredetermined lit area reduction process in a step S62 and goes to astep S64. On the other hand, if a quick approach is detected in the stepS60, the flow directly goes to the step S64, Besides, in a case as wellwhere an approach detection is not performed in the step S58, the flowdirectly goes to the step S64. In this way, the lit area reductionoperation in the step S62 is executed only when both hands are made toslowly approach the left proximity sensor and the right proximitysensor.

In the step S64, it is checked whether or a moving-away is detectedbased on the sensor outputs from both of the left proximity sensor andthe right proximity sensor. And, if it is a moving-away detection, theflow executes a predetermined lit area enlargement process in a step S66and goes to a step S68. On the other hand, if a moving-away detection isnot performed in the step S64, the flow directly goes to the step S68.In this way, the lit area enlargement process in the step S66 isexecuted irrespective of the speed of both hands moving away from theleft proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor. Here, in a case aswell where it is not detected that there are sensor outputs from both ofthe left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensor, the flowdirectly goes to the step S68.

In the step S68, it is checked whether or not an approach detection isperformed based on the sensor output from the left proximity sensor.And, if there is an approach detection, the flow executes apredetermined lit area rightward change process in a step S70 and goesto a step S72. On the other hand, when in the step S68, there is not anapproach detection based on the sensor output from the left proximitysensor, the flow directly goes to the step S72.

In the step S72, it is checked whether or not an approach detection isperformed based on the sensor output from the right proximity sensor.And, if there is an approach detection, the flow executes apredetermined lit area leftward change process in a step S74 and goes toa step S76. On the other hand, when in the step S72, there is not anapproach detection based on the sensor output from the right proximitysensor, the flow directly goes to the step S76. As described above, whenthere is the sensor output only from either one of the left proximitysensor and the right proximity sensor, an approach detection isperformed at all times; and even if there is a moving-away detection,nothing is performed. The reason for this is that because the leftproximity sensor and the right proximity sensor are in charge of one andthe other of the left-right movements, respectively, it is not necessaryto perform both-direction detections. Besides, by employing suchdetection method, there is no risk that an erroneous operation occursbecause of a moving-away. Here, such detection method approximates, in anon-contact fashion, a hand movement that for example pushes a swingtype of lighting apparatus rightward with the left hand or leftward withthe right hand; and allows operation with the same operation sense as ifdirectly touching the lighting apparatus even when not touching directlythe lighting apparatus.

In the step S76, it is checked whether or not an output change occurswithin a predetermined time in either one of the left proximity sensorand the right proximity sensor. This is a step that has the same meaningas the step S32 in FIG. 10. In other words, if both hands that causeoutput changes from both of the left proximity sensor and the rightproximity sensor still move thereafter, an output change occurs withinthe predetermined time; however, thereafter, it both hands are stopped,an output change does not occur. And, if it is detected that both handscontinue to be stopped and there is not an output change within thepredetermined time, the flow goes to a step S78; thereafter, during apredetermined time, inactivates the proximity sensors. This is toprevent the proximity sensor from: detecting a moving-away movement ofthe hand after the hand, which performs the lit area change, achieves apredetermined lit area change; and causing an erroneous operation thatgenerates an unintentional lit area enlargement. If the predeterminedtime elapses in the step S78, the flow ends. On the other hand, if thereis an output change within the predetermined time in the step S76, it isconsidered that the lit area change operation continues and the flow isended.

As described hereinafter, with a slight replacement, it is also possibleto apply the flow charts in FIGS. 10 and 11 to Embodiments 1 and 2.First, when the color change function is not employed like Embodiments1, 2, the “night light yellow turning-on” in the step S4 and the stepS42 in FIG. 10 is replaced with the “night light turning-on.” Besides,the step S28 and the step S30 are omitted. On the other hand, althoughnot replacement, the “lit area change process” in the step S38 in FIG.10 and the “lit area reduction and enlargement” or the “lit arealeft-right change” in the steps S62, S66, S70 and S74 in FIG. 11 are notlimited to the lighting apparatuses that perform the processes by meansof the mechanical drive portion in Embodiment 3 and Embodiment 4; andare applicable to the lighting apparatuses that perform the processes bymeans of the turning-on target LED group change and the brightnesschange of the turning-on target LED group as in Embodiment 1 andEmbodiment 2.

The practical application of the various features of the presentinvention which are exemplified in the above respective Embodiments isnot limited to the Embodiments as they are. For example, in a case wherethe pair of the left proximity sensor and the right proximity sensorthat are in charge of detecting the hand movements which are indirections opposite to each other are disposed and the control of thelight source portion is performed based on the respective left-hand andright-hand movements of which the pair of left proximity sensor andright proximity sensor are in charge, in the step S68 and the step S72of the flow chart in FIG. 11, the proximity sensors each perform onlythe hand-approach detection; and are inactivated for the moving-away, sothat an operation-sensuous confusion does not occur between the handmovement and the lit area change obtained as a result of the handmovement. However, the application, in which the pair of the sensors incharge of detecting the hand movements in directions opposite to eachother, is not limited to this. As an example, a structure may beemployed, in which the left proximity sensor and the right proximitysensor detect some hand movement; irrespective of a detailed conditionof the hand movement, if the hand movement is a left-hand movement, thestep S70 is performed, while if the hand movement is a right-handmovement, the step S74 is performed. According to this structure, forexample, a reciprocating movement of the left hand generates a rightwardchange of the lit area while a reciprocating movement of the right handgenerates a leftward change of the lit area. In this case as well, bylearning the operation and the result of the operation, it becomespossible for the operator to perform the rightward change or theleftward change of the lit area having a sense as if the operator isrepeating the left-hand or right-hand approach movement.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart that shows details of the predetermined lit areareduction process in the step S62 in FIG. 11 and of the predeterminedlit area enlargement process in the step S66 in FIG. 11. The flow chartin FIG. 12 is used for an example of the type in which the lit area ischanged in accordance with the increase and decrease of the number ofturned-on LED groups as in Embodiment 1 in FIG. 1 and Embodiment 2 inFIG. 6; and is so structured as to be applicable to both of the step S62and the step S66. If the flow starts, the flow goes to a step S82 tocheck whether or not the detected movement is a quick approach. If it isa quick approach, the flow goes to a step S84 to check whether or notonly the LED group corresponding to the minimum lit area is now in theturned-on state. If it is not true, the flow goes to a step S86 to issuean instruction for turning off an LED group corresponding to a ring beltadjacent to a turning-on continuation target and reduces the lit area.

Next, it is checked in a step S88 whether or not it is a mode forautomatically increasing the brightness of an LED group which continuesto be turned on when the lit area is narrowed. If it is confirmed in thestep S88 that it is such a narrow area automatic light increase mode,the flow goes to a step S90 to read, from a storage portion in thecontrol portion, data of a duty cycle that is allowed after the lit areareduction. And, in a step S92, the flow issues an instruction forincreasing the duty cycle of the LED group of the turning-oncontinuation target within the allowed range that is read in the stepS90; and goes to a step S94. On the other hand, if a quick approachdetection is not confirmed in the step S82, or if the LED group onlycorresponding to the minimum lit area is in the turned-on state in thestep S84 and it is impossible to reduce the lit area any more, or if thenarrow area automatic light increase mode is not confirmed in the stepS88, the flow directly goes to the step S94.

In the step S94, it is checked whether or not the detected movement is amoving-away. If it is a moving-away detection, the flow goes to a stepS96 to check whether or not all the LED groups are now in the turned-onstate. If it is not true, the flow goes to a step S98 to read, from thestorage portion in the control portion, data of a duty cycle that isallowed after the lit area enlargement. And, in a step S100, it is checkwhether or not the duty cycle of an LED group that is in the turned-onstate falls outside the allowed range that is read in the step S98. And,if it is true, the flow goes to a step S102 to issue an instruction fordecreasing the duty cycle of the LED group that is in the turned-onstate; and goes to a step S104. Besides, if it is confirmed that theduty cycle of the LED group which is already in the turned-on state doesnot fall outside the allowed range even if turned-on LEDs are increased,the flow directly goes to the step S104.

In the step S104, an instruction is issued for turning on the LED groupcorresponding to the ring belt adjacent to the turning-on continuationtarget to enlarge the lit area and the flow is ended. On the other hand,if a moving-away is not confirmed in the step S94, or if all the LEDgroups are in the turned-on state in the step S96 and it is impossibleto enlarge the lit area any more, the flow is immediately ended.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart that shows details of the predetermined lightamount change process in the step S26 in FIG. 10. The flow chart in FIG.13 is used for an example of the type in which the white light LEDs andthe yellow light LEDs are mingled as in Embodiment 3 in FIG. 8 andEmbodiment 4 in FIG. 9 whereby it is possible to adjust the lightingcolor; and is used to automatically lower the color temperature toobtain a lighting color in which a yellowish color prevails if the lightamount becomes small. If the flow starts, in a step S112, it is checkedwhether or not the detected movement is a left-ward movement. If it is aleftward movement detection, the flow goes to a step S114 to read, fromthe storage portion in the control portion, data of the allowed dutycycle in the current turned-on state. And, in the next step S116, it ischecked whether or not the turning-on is performed within the allowedduty cycle; if it is within the allowed duty cycle, there is room forfurther raising the duty cycle to increase the light amount, accordinglythe flow goes to a step S118.

In the step S118, it is checked whether or not the light amount is at alow level, only the yellow light LED group is in the turned-on state,and the duty cycle of the white light LED group is in a zero region. Ifit is not such a region, the flow goes to a step S120 to check whetheror not the duty cycle of the white light LED group is equal to or undera lower limit of a predetermined range. If it is not in such a range,the flow goes to a step S122 to check whether or not the duty cycle ofthe white light LED group is in the predetermined range. And, if it isin this range, in a step S124, the flow issues an instruction forenlarging the duty cycles of the white light LED group and the yellowlight LED group to increase the illumination light amount by apredetermined amount; and goes to a step S126. Here, the duty cycleincrease rate of the white light LED group is made larger than that ofthe yellow light LED group such that the total brightness increases, thetint shifts toward the white and the color temperature rises.

On the other hand, if it is not confirmed that the movement detected inthe step S112 is a leftward movement, the flow goes to the step S126.Besides, in the step S116, if it is confirmed that the current dutycycle already reaches the allowed limit and there is no room forincreasing the light amount any more, the flow directly goes to the stepS116. Further, in the step S118, if it is confirmed that the duty cycleof the white light LED group is in the zero region, the flow goes to thestep S127 to increase the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group by apredetermined amount; and goes to the step S126. In other words, in thisregion, the white light LED group is not turned on yet and thebrightness of the yellow light LED group is increased.

Besides, in the step S120, if it is confirmed that the white light LEDgroup is in a region to be turned on; however, its duty cycle is equalto or under than the lower limit of the predetermined range, the flowgoes to a step S128 to fix the duty cycle of the yellow light LED groupat a small duty cycle at a time the white light LED group reaches theturned-on region and to increase the duty cycle of the white light LEDgroup only by a predetermined amount. According to this, the totalbrightness increases, the tint shifts toward the white and the colortemperature rises. Further, in the step S122, if it is not confirmedthat the duty cycle of the white light LED group is in the predeterminedrange, this means that the duty cycle is equal to or over the upperlimit of the predetermined range; accordingly, the flow goes to a stepS130 to increase the duty cycles of both of the white light LED groupand the yellow light LED group by a predetermined amount at the sameincrease rate; and goes to the step S126. In the region where the stepS130 is executed, the color temperature is already at the upper limitand only the brightness is increased with the same color temperaturekept. Here, this step S130 is so structured as to preferentiallyincrease the brightness to the limit of the allowed duty cycle. However,in a case where the color temperature is further preferentially raisedin accordance with the brightness increase, in the step S130, astructure may be employed, in which the duty cycle of the yellow lightLED group is fixed at a relatively large duty cycle at a time the whitelight LED group reaches the turned-on predetermined range upper limitand only the duty cycle of the white light LED group only is increasedby a predetermined amount.

In the step S126, it is checked whether or not the movement detected inthe step S24 in FIG. 10 is a rightward movement. If it is a rightwardmovement detection, the flow goes to a step S132 to check whether or notthe current lighting is performed at the night light lighting duty cyclefor the minimum brightness; if it is not true, there is room for furthermaking the duty cycle smaller to decrease the light amount; accordinglythe flow goes to a step S134.

In the step S134, it is checked whether or not the light amount is at alow level, only the yellow light LED group is in the turned-on state,and the duty cycle of the white light LED group is in the zero region.If it is not such a region, the flow goes to a step S136 to checkwhether or not the duty cycle of the white light LED group is equal toor under the lower limit of a predetermined range. If it is not in sucha range, the flow goes to a step S138 to check whether or not the dutycycle of the white light LED group is in the predetermined range. And,if it is in this range, in a step S140, the flow issues an instructionfor making the duty cycles of the white light LED group and the yellowlight LED group small and decreasing the illumination light amount by apredetermined amount; and the flow is ended. Here, the duty cycledecrease rate of the white light LED group is made larger than that ofthe yellow light LED group such that the total brightness decreases, thetint shifts toward the yellow and the color temperature becomes low.

On the other hand, if it is not confirmed that the movement detected inthe step S126 is a rightward movement, the flow is immediately ended.Besides, in the step S132, if it is confirmed that the current dutycycle is already in the night light turned-on state and there is no roomfor decreasing the light amount to lower the light amount any further,the flow is immediately ended. Further, in the step S134, if it isconfirmed that the duty cycle of the white light LED group is in thezero region, the flow goes to a step S142 to decrease the duty cycle ofthe yellow light LED group by a predetermined amount; and the flow isended. In other words, in this region, the white light LED group is notin the turned-on state and the brightness of the yellow light LED groupis decreased.

Besides, in the step S136, if it is confirmed that the white light LEDgroup is in a region to be turned on; however, its duty cycle is equalto or under than the lower limit of a predetermined range, the flow goesto a step S144 to fix the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group at asmall duty cycle at the lower limit of the white light LED groupturned-on region and to decrease the duty cycle of the white light LEDgroup only by a predetermined amount. According to this, the totalbrightness decreases, the tint shifts toward the yellow and the colortemperature becomes low. Further, in the step S138, if it is notconfirmed that the duty cycle of the white light LED group is in thepredetermined range, this means that the duty cycle is equal to or overthe upper limit of the predetermined range; accordingly, the flow goesto a step S146 to decrease the duty cycles of both of the white lightLED group and the yellow light LED group by a predetermined amount atthe same decrease rate. The color temperature in this region is alreadyat the upper limit and only the brightness is decreased with the samecolor temperature kept. Here, the structure of this step S146 is astructure in which the brightness is preferentially increased to thelimit of the allowed duty cycle like in the step S130. However, in acase where the color temperature is further preferentially lowered inaccordance with the brightness decrease in the same way as described inthe step S130, in the step S146, a structure may be employed, in whichthe duty cycle of the yellow light LED group is fixed at a relativelylarge duty cycle at a time the white light LED reaches the turned-onpredetermined range upper limit and only the duty cycle of the whitelight LED group only is decreased by a predetermined amount. Here, arelationship between the brightness and the color temperature, which isused for the above control, is recorded as a table in the storageportion of the control portion 40.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart that shows details of the predetermined colorchange process in the step S30 in FIG. 10. The flow chart in FIG. 14 isalso used for an example of the type in which the white light LEDs andthe yellow light LEDs are mingled as in Embodiment 3 in FIG. 8 andEmbodiment 4 in FIG. 9 whereby it is possible to adjust the lightingcolor. If the flow starts, in a step S152, data of the allowed dutycycle in the current turned-on state are read from the storage portionof the control portion. Next, the flow goes to a step S154, where it isit is checked whether or not the movement detected in the step S28 inFIG. 10 is an upward movement. If it is an upward movement detection,the flow goes to a step S156 to check whether or not a preset mode for apredetermined color is set. It is possible to perform this mode settingin advance in the step S2 in FIG. 10.

If it is not a preset mode, the flow goes to a step S158 to checkwhether or not the white light LED group is turned on at the duty cycleupper limit of the allowed range; if it is not the allowed duty cycleupper limit, there is room for further increasing the duty cycle of thewhite light LED group to raise the color temperature; accordingly, theflow goes to a step S160. In the step S160, it is checked whether or notthe yellow light LED group is turned on at the duty cycle lower limit ofthe allowed range; if it is not the allowed duty cycle lower limit,there is room for further decreasing the duty cycle of the yellow lightLED group to raise the color temperature; accordingly, the flow goes toa step S162. In the step S162, the duty cycle of the white light LEDgroup is increased by a predetermined amount and the duty cycle of theyellow light LED group is decreased by a predetermined amount, wherebythe color temperature is raised and the flow goes to a step S164.

On the other hand, if an upward movement is not confirmed in the stepS154, the flow directly goes to the step S164. Besides, if a preset modesetting is confirmed in the step S156, the flow goes to a step S166 toshift the color temperature by one step to a preset color on the whiteside by changing the duty cycles of the white light LED group and theyellow light LED group to a value set in advance; thereafter, goes tothe step S164. Here, in a case where only two colors are set as thepreset colors, the color temperature is set at the preset color on thewhite side.

Besides, in the step S158, if it is detected that the white light LEDgroup is turned on at the duty cycle upper limit of the allowed range,the flow goes to a step S168 to further check whether or not the yellowlight LED group is turned on at the duty cycle lower limit of theallowed range. If it is not true, the flow goes to a step S170 to raisethe color temperature by decreasing the duty cycle of the yellow lightLED group by a predetermined amount while keeping the duty cycle of thewhite light LED group at the upper limit; and goes to the step S164. Onthe other hand, in the step S168, in a case where it is detected thatthe yellow light LED group is turned on at the duty cycle lower limit ofthe allowed range, the color temperature is already at the maximum valueof the adjustable range and there is no room for further raising;accordingly, the flow directly goes to the step S164.

Besides, in the step S160, in a case where it is detected that theyellow light LED group is turned on at the duty cycle lower limit of theallowed range, the flow goes to a step S172 to raise the colortemperature by increasing the duty cycle of the white light LED group bya predetermined amount while keeping the duty cycle of the yellow lightLED group at the lower limit; and goes to the step S164.

In the step S164, it is checked whether or not the movement detected inthe step S28 in FIG. 10 is a downward movement. If it is a downwardmovement detection, the flow goes to a step S174 to check whether or nota preset mode for a predetermined color is set. If it is not a presetmode, the flow goes to a step S176 to check whether or not the yellowlight LED group is turned on at the duty cycle upper limit of theallowed range; if it is not the allowed duty cycle upper limit, there isroom for further increasing the duty cycle of the yellow light LED groupto decrease the color temperature; accordingly, the flow goes to a stepS178. In the step S178, it is checked whether or not the white light LEDgroup is turned on at the duty cycle lower limit of the allowed range;if it is not the allowed duty cycle lower limit, there is room fordecreasing the color temperature by decreasing the duty cycle of thewhite light LED group; accordingly, the flow goes to a step S180. And,in the step S180, the duty cycle of the yellow light LED group isincreased by a predetermined amount and the duty cycle of the whitelight LED group is decreased by a predetermined amount, whereby thecolor temperature is lowered and the flow is ended.

On the other hand, if a downward movement is not confirmed in the stepS164, the flow is ended. Besides, if a preset mode setting is detectedin the step S174, the flow goes to a step S182 to shift the colortemperature by one step to a yellow-side preset color by changing theduty cycles of the white light LED group and the yellow light LED groupto a value set in advance; thereafter, the flow is ended. Here, in acase where only two colors are set as the preset colors, the colortemperature is set at the yellow side preset color.

Besides, in the step S176, if it is detected that the yellow light LEDgroup is turned on at the duty cycle upper limit of the allowed range,the flow goes to a step S184 to further check whether or not the whitelight LED group is turned on at the duty cycle lower limit of theallowed range. And, if it is not true, the flow goes to a step S186 tolower the color temperature by decreasing the duty cycle of the whitelight LED group by a predetermined amount while keeping the duty cycleof the yellow light LED group at the upper limit; and the flow is ended.On the other hand, in the step S184, in a case where it is detected thatthe white light LED group is turned on at the duty cycle lower limit ofthe allowed range, the color temperature is already at the minimum valueof the adjustable range and there is no room for further lowering;accordingly, the flow is immediately ended.

Besides, in the step S178, in a case where it is detected that the whitelight LED group is turned on at the duty cycle lower limit of theallowed range, the flow goes to a step S188 to lower the colortemperature by increasing the duty cycle of the yellow light LED groupby a predetermined amount while keeping the duty cycle of the whitelight LED group at the lower limit; and the flow is ended.

The use of the above various advantages of the present invention is notlimited to the above Embodiments: the use is able to find its way intoother various practical applications. For example, in Embodiments inFIG. 6 and FIG. 7, to dispose the light emitting diode groups not on aplanar surface but three-dimensionally, the inward bent surface which ispart of the sphere is used. However, as already described, to disposethe LED groups such that the light emission center axes are not parallelto each other, the disposition on a simple spherical surface is notlimiting: it is possible to minutely perform the design considering theilluminance of a lit target surface. Besides, as for the base for thedisposition, it is possible to use not only an inward bent surface butalso an outward bent surface. Further, it is possible to use athree-dimensional disposition deviated in a stepwise fashion instead ofa continuous surface.

<Sum Up>

Hereinafter, the various technological features disclosed in the presentspecification are summed up.

<First Technological Feature>

Of the various technological features disclosed in the presentspecification, an object of a first technological feature is to providea lighting apparatus that has a useful function and is easy to control.

To achieve the object, the first technological feature disclosed in thepresent specification provides a lighting apparatus that includes: alight source portion for lighting; a non-contact proximity sensor thatis disposed at a position for detecting a hand movement outside a litarea provided by the light source portion; and a control portion thatduring lighting by the light source portion, controls the light sourceportion based on an output from the non-contact proximity sensor.According to this, it becomes possible to control the light sourceportion during the lighting without allowing a hand, which operates thenon-contact proximity sensor, to cast a shadow onto a lit target. Here,the control of the light source portion by the control portion includeslit area changes such as a lit spread change, a lit position movementand the like.

According to a specific feature, the light source portion includes aplurality of light emitting diodes; the control portion selectivelycontrols the plurality of light emitting diodes. According to this, itbecomes possible to selectively control the plurality of light emittingdiodes without allowing the hand, which operates the non-contactproximity sensor, to cast a shadow onto the lit target. According to theselective control of the plurality of light emitting diodes, it becomespossible to change the lit area, for example.

According to another specific feature, the control portion changes thelit area provided by the light source portion in a direction inaccordance with the hand movement that is detected by the non-contactproximity sensor. According to this, despite the non-contact operation,it is possible to take over a familiar operation way as if changing thelit area by pushing the lighting apparatus by hand.

Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a lightsource portion for lighting; a non-contact proximity sensor that detectsa hand movement; and a control portion that controls the light sourceportion based on an output from the non-contact proximity sensor inaccordance with determination criteria that are different when the lightsource portion is lighting versus when the light source portion is notlighting. According to this, it is possible to execute the lightingoperation that requires relatively many control items by minutelydetermining the output from the non-contact proximity sensor and toperform, based on a detection result irrespective of the output from thenon-contact proximity sensor, the control during a time of not-lightingthat requires relatively less control items.

According to a specific feature, the control portion controls the lightsource portion in a first way based on a first output change from thenon-contact proximity sensor when the light source portion is lighting;and controls the light source portion in a second way based on a secondoutput change from the non-contact proximity sensor; on the other hand,when the light source portion is not lighting, the control portion putsthe light source portion into the lighting state even if the outputchange from the non-contact proximity sensor is the first output changeor the second output change. According to this, it is possible to surelyperform directional control for increasing or decreasing the brightnessduring the lighting by changing the hand movement; and easily achieve asimple purpose of turning on the light source portion by means of anyhand movement when the light source portion is not lighting. Here, inthe above description, both of a turned-off state and a night lightturned-on state are the non-lighting states.

Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a lightsource portion for lighting; a non-contact proximity sensor that detectsa hand movement; and a control portion that controls the light sourceportion based on an output from the non-contact proximity sensor; and ina time zone adjacent to this control, does not perform control based onthe output from the non-contact proximity sensor. According to this, itis possible to prevent an unintentional erroneous operation based on ahand movement in the time zone that is adjacent to the control of thelight source portion.

According to a specific feature, the adjacent time zone is a time zonebefore the light source portion is controlled based on the output fromthe non-contact proximity sensor. According to this, for example, in acase where desired control of the light source portion is performedbased a moving-away movement from the non-contact proximity sensor, itis possible to prevent an unintentional erroneous operation when thehand is made to approach the non-contact proximity sensor beforeperforming the control. Besides, according to another specific feature,the adjacent time zone is a time zone after the light source portion iscontrolled based on the output from the non-contact proximity sensor.According to this, for example, when the desired control of the lightsource portion is completed and the hand is made to move away, it ispossible to prevent an unintentional erroneous operation from occurring.

Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a lightsource portion for lighting; a non-contact proximity sensor that detectsa hand movement; and a control portion that controls the light sourceportion based on an output from the non-contact proximity sensor; anddoes not perform control based on a predetermined output change from thenon-contact proximity sensor. According to this, it is possible toprevent an unintentional erroneous operation based on a hand movementthat is not for a target operation.

According to a specific feature, the predetermined output change is anoutput change faster than predetermined. According to this, when minuteadjustment control is performed based on a slow hand movement, it ispossible to prevent an unintentional erroneous operation caused by ahand movement that first quickly approaches the non-contact proximitysensor for this operation.

Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a lightsource portion for lighting; a non-contact proximity sensor thatincludes a pair of sensor portions that are in charge of detecting handmovements which are in directions opposite to each other; and a controlportion that controls the light source portion based on respective handmovements of which the pair of sensor portions are in charge. Accordingto this, despite an operation that is able to perform bidirectionalcontrol, it is sufficient for each sensor to detect only one-directionalmovement, so that it is possible to prevent an erroneous operationcaused by an unintentional opposite-directional movement.

According to a specific feature, the pair of sensor portions aredisposed in directions opposite to each other; and the control portioncontrols the light source portion based on the respective hand approachdetections by the pair of sensor portions. According to this, despitethe non-contact operation, it is possible to take over a familiaroperation way as if adjusting the lit area and the like by pushing thelighting apparatus in opposite directions by the right hand or the lefthand.

Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a lightsource portion for lighting; a non-contact proximity sensor that detectsa hand movement; and a control portion that controls the light sourceportion based on an output from the non-contact proximity sensor, andperforms specific control based on a specific output change from thenon-contact proximity sensor during a specific time from an outputchange start of the non-contact proximity sensor. According to this, aspecific hand movement at an operation start time is not mistaken asanother movement.

According to a specific feature, the specific output change is an outputchange faster than predetermined. According to this, it is possible toperform a simple operation, which is not aimed at minute adjustmentsuch, for example, as ending the lighting state and the like, withoutallowing a fast hand movement to be mistaken as another operation.

As described above, according to the first technological featuredisclosed in the present specification, it is possible to provide alighting apparatus that has useful functions and is easy to control.

<Second Technological Feature>

Of the various technological features disclosed in the presentspecification, an object of a second technological feature is to providea lighting apparatus that has a useful function.

To achieve the object, the second technological feature disclosed in thepresent specification provides a lighting apparatus that includes: alight source portion that includes a plurality of light emitting diodes;a power-supply portion that supplies electricity to the light sourceportion; and a control portion that controls the number of actuallyturned-on diodes of the plurality of light emitting diodes, andincreases allowed electricity suppliable to each light emitting diodethat is in an actual turned-on state when limiting the number of lightemitting diodes that are in the actual turned-on state.

According the above feature, it is possible to achieve a preferredrelationship between the number of light emitting diodes in the actualturned-on state and the electricity supplied to each light emittingdiode. Here, adjustment of the electricity supply is possible by meansof changes of an electric-current amount supplied to the light emittingdiode and of the duty cycle.

According to a specific feature, the light source portion has a heatradiation portion for the light emitting diode; and the allowedelectricity is decided in accordance with a heat radiation capability ofthe heat radiation portion. According to this, for example, when thenumber of light emitting diodes in the actual turned-on state islimited, part of the heat radiation capability of the heat radiationportion is reserved, so that by making use of this, it is possible toincrease the electricity supply to each light emitting diode and achieveefficient light emission.

According to another specific feature, the light source portion changesthe number of light emitting diodes that are in the actual turned-onstate, thereby changing the spread of the lit area. For example, thelight source portion limits the number of light emitting diodes that arein the actual turned-on state, thereby narrowing the lit area. In thiscase, when the lit area is narrowed, the allowed electricity suppliableto each light emitting diode is increased, so that it becomes possibleto light the spot-like narrow lit area more brightly.

Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a lightsource portion that includes a plurality of light emitting diodes; apower-supply portion that supplies electricity to the light sourceportion; and a control portion that controls the number of actuallyturned-on diodes of the plurality of light emitting diodes to change aspread of a lit area. According to this, it becomes possible to changethe spread of the lit area even without a movable portion. However, amovable portion is not discouraged from being used together.

According to a specific feature, the control portion limits the numberof light emitting diodes that are in the actual turned-on state, therebyincreasing the electricity supplied to each light emitting diode that isin the actual turned-on state when the lit area is narrowed. Accordingto this, it becomes possible to light the spot-like narrow lit area morebrightly. According to this, for example, as in a case where the litarea is lightened more brightly when the lit area is made small by anoptical system, even in a lit area change by a movable portion, it ispossible to provide a familiar lighting condition in a pseudo-fashion.

According to a specific feature, by disposing three-dimensionally theplurality of light emitting diodes, the lit area by each light emittingdiode is decided. More specifically, the plurality of light emittingdiodes are disposed on a planar-shape flexible board to bend the diodesas a whole, whereby the plurality of light emitting diodes arethree-dimensionally disposed. According to this, by using individuallight emitting diodes that have a relatively lighting area, it becomespossible to decide a preferred lighting area even without a lightcollection means and a movable portion. However, a light collectionmeans and a movable portion are not discouraged from being usedtogether.

Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a lightsource portion that includes a plurality of light emitting diodes; apower-supply portion that supplies electricity to the light sourceportion; and a control portion that controls an actual lighting state ofthe plurality of light emitting diodes, changes a light emitting diodethat is in the actual lighting state and thereby shifts a lit area.According to this, it becomes possible to shift the lit area evenwithout a movable portion. However, a movable portion is not discouragedfrom being used together.

Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a lightsource portion that includes a light emitting diode; a power-supplyportion that supplies electricity to the light source portion; and acontrol portion that changes a brightness of the light source portion,and automatically makes a color temperature of the light source portionchange in accordance with the brightness change.

According to the above feature, for example, it is possible to providein a pseudo-fashion: for example, a relationship between electricitysupply to a filament of an incandescent lamp and a familiar lightingcondition such as a color temperature change of the sun during day timeand at dusk and the like. According to a more specific feature example,it is possible to turn on the light source portion as a night light bymeans of the minimum brightness and the lowest color temperature;according to this, it is possible to suppress an uncomfortable feelingof darkening the lighting while keeping the color temperature high.

Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a lightsource portion that includes a light emitting diode; a power-supplyportion that supplies electricity to the light source portion; and acontrol portion that changes a color temperature of the light sourceportion; and a storage portion that stores the color temperaturecontrolled by the control portion. According to this, in varioussituations, it becomes easy to restore a once set preferred colortemperature and to control a preferred color temperature in accordancewith the brightness.

Another feature provides a lighting apparatus that includes: a lightsource portion that includes a plurality of kinds of light emittingdiodes that have different color temperatures; a power-supply portionthat supplies electricity to the light source portion; and a controlportion that changes a lighting color temperature as a whole byselecting a light emitting diode, and based on a relationship between abrightness and a color temperature, applies different control to theplurality of kinds of light emitting diodes. According to this, it ispossible to flexibly achieve a color temperature change in varioussituations.

According to the above specific feature, for example, the controlportion changes the electricity supply to, of the plurality of kinds oflight emitting diodes, a light emitting diode that has a high colortemperature, thereby changing the lighting color temperature as a whole.Besides, according to another specific example, the control portionchanges the electricity supply to, of the plurality of kinds of lightemitting diodes, a light emitting diode that has a low colortemperature, thereby changing the lighting color temperature as a whole.Further, according to another specific example, the control portionchanges the respective electricity supply to the plurality of kinds oflight emitting diodes, thereby changing the lighting color temperatureas a whole.

As described above, according to the second technological featuredisclosed in the present specification, it is possible to provide alighting apparatus that has useful functions.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The various technological features disclosed in the presentspecification are applicable to lighting apparatuses in various livingenvironments such as a kitchen, a bathroom and the like.

OTHER MODIFICATIONS

Here, in the above description, the best embodiments are described;however, the disclosed technological features are modifiable in variousways; besides, it is possible to employ various embodiments differentfrom the structures that are specifically employed in the abovedescription, which is apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly,the following claims are intended to cover any modifications of thepresent invention in the technological scope without departing from thespirit and technological concept of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   6, 106, 207, 208, 307, 308 light source portions    -   32, 132, 232, 233, 332, 333 power-supply portions    -   40, 140, 240, 340 control portions    -   42 to 46, 142 to 146, 242 to 246 non-contact proximity sensors    -   44, 46, 144, 146, 244, 246, 344, 346 pairs of sensor portions

The invention claimed is:
 1. A lighting apparatus for use with aplurality of light emitting diodes comprising: a heat radiator having abent surface; and a flexible board for mounting the plurality of lightemitting diodes, wherein the flexible board is attached on the bentsurface so that the plurality of light emitting diodes are disposed on abent plane corresponding the bent surface of the heat radiator and thatthe plurality of light emitting diodes are cooled commonly by the heatradiator, wherein the flexible board includes cutout pieces radiallyextending from the center of the flexible board, the lighting apparatusfurther comprising a driver circuit located at the center of theflexible board for driving the plurality of light emitting diodes. 2.The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein light emissioncenter axes of the plurality of light emitting diodes are not parallelto each other.
 3. The lighting apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe light emission center axes of the plurality of light emitting diodesconcentrate.
 4. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thebent surface of the heat radiator is inwardly bent.
 5. The lightingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bent plane on which theplurality of light emitting diodes are disposed is a part of a sphericalsurface.
 6. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thedriver circuit is radially connected to the plurality of light emittingdiodes mounted on each of the cutout pieces, respectively, without cutby discontinuity between the cutout pieces.
 7. A lighting apparatus foruse with a plurality of light emitting diodes comprising: a heatradiator having a bent surface; and a flexible board for mounting theplurality of light emitting diodes, wherein the flexible board isattached on the bent surface so that the plurality of light emittingdiodes are disposed on a bent plane corresponding the bent surface ofthe heat radiator and that the plurality of light emitting diodes arecooled commonly by the heat radiator, wherein the flexible boardincludes cutout pieces radially extending from the center of theflexible board so that the cutout pieces are in contact with each otherwith the flexible board attached on the bent surface of the radiator. 8.A lighting apparatus for use with a plurality of light emitting diodescomprising: a flexible board including cutout pieces radially extendingfrom the center of the flexible board; and a plurality of light emittingdiodes mounted on each of the cutout pieces, respectively, wherein thecutout pieces are in contact with each other to dispose the plurality oflight emitting diodes on a bent plane.
 9. The lighting apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein light emission center axes of theplurality of light emitting diodes are not parallel to each other withthe cutout pieces in contact with each other.
 10. The lighting apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein the bent plane is inwardly bent.
 11. Thelighting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the light emissioncenter axes of the plurality of light emitting diodes concentrate withthe cutout pieces in contact with each other.
 12. The lighting apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein the bent plane is a part of a sphericalsurface.
 13. The lighting apparatus according to claim 8 furthercomprising a driver circuit located at the center of the flexible boardfor driving the plurality of light emitting diodes.
 14. The lightingapparatus according to claim 13, wherein the driver circuit is radiallyconnected to the plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on each ofthe cutout pieces, respectively, without cut by discontinuity betweenthe cutout pieces.
 15. A lighting apparatus for use with a plurality oflight emitting diodes comprising: a flexible board for mounting theplurality of light emitting diodes, and a driver circuit located at thecenter of the flexible board for driving the plurality of light emittingdiodes, wherein the driver circuit is radially connected to theplurality of light emitting diodes, respectively, without cut by adiscontinuity of the flexible board between the plurality of lightemitting diodes.
 16. The lighting apparatus according to claim 15,wherein the flexible board includes cutout pieces radially extendingfrom the center of the flexible board so that the cutout pieces are incontact with each other to dispose the plurality of light emittingdiodes on a bent plane.
 17. The lighting apparatus according to claim16, wherein the bent plane is inwardly bent.
 18. The lighting apparatusaccording to claim 16, wherein the light emission center axes of theplurality of light emitting diodes concentrate with the cutout pieces incontact with each other.
 19. The lighting apparatus according to claim16, wherein the bent plane is a part of a spherical surface.